Sikkim has a number of towns and urban settlements, and the number of “cities” is more or less dependent upon the definition used. The Census of India of 2011 recorded eight statutory towns, recognized as urban local bodies, in Sikkim. These are Gangtok, Namchi, Gyalshing, Mangan, Singtam, Rangpo, Jorethang and Nayabazar.
The capital and largest urban centre of Sikkim is Gangtok, which is the major administrative, commercial, educational and tourist node of the state. Namchi is another significant town in the south of Sikkim, and Gyalshing is also an important centre in the west of Sikkim. The district headquarters of North Sikkim is Mangan, which is also an important gateway to the northern Himalayas.
Besides these officially recognized towns, Sikkim state has many towns and villages included in the four districts. The state's mountainous topography leads to the existence of many small settlements that are spread out across the valleys and hills.
So, if we talk of only towns, then Sikkim had 8 towns in the 2011 Census. The figures for urban settlements, however, may vary in more recent classifications due to changes in administrative boundaries and urban areas. These towns are useful for a general overview of Sikkim's urban centres and their distribution on a map-based understanding.
